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Finally, raffia, a handwoven fiber from buli will now be sold in a box, not anymore in plastic or newspaper packs.

Hand woven raffia has since been a product that could not reach soaring heights like most of Bohol’s traditional and marketable crafts, a fact that marketing experts account to a poor market packaging.

“It’s quite a pity that a product that incorporates the long tale of traditions, industry, artistry and ingenuity of the Boholanos, could not get the right price it should command,” lamented Vina Antopina, information officer at the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) here.

Raffia, a natural fiber obtained from “buri” palm, has been one of Bohol’s leading showcases of its hand woven industry, humbly emerging from a home based industry into firm-level production which has provided income and employment opportunities to the Boholanos.

Raffia fiber is stripped from dried young buri palm leaves, some dyed, others in their natural colors and woven by hand or modern looms.

Crafted with the skill and artistry of the weaver, a raffia roll is highly adaptable, durable and artistic, the Bohol raffia has breached out of its home-based loom industry to Bohol’s leading highly demanded green product, said Department of Trade and Industry trade and industry development specialist.

What is a pity is that; with all the time, toil and creativity incorporated in the weave, a raffia roll still could command a better price, Antopina said.

It’s sad that raffia; a clearly pro-environment product when sold, is wrapped in ordinary paper or plastic, that demeans its being a highly demanded green raw material for bags, fashion accessories and home accents, she said.

With the DOST, a technical assistance from its Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SET-UP), the government agency looked into a country branding program for the Bohol raffia, focused on its packaging, said Engr. Marcial Tanggaan, during a chance interview.

Tanggaan, Bohol DOST head, believed that giving the raffia its right packaging and branding is just appropriate for a product that is very close to the heart of the Boholanos.

Considering the toil, artistry and skill that is interwoven in the product, the product should keep a niche as one of Bohol’s best, Antopina said.

Now, the Bohol raffia carries the Rapya brand, a neat packaging of sepia and the shades of brown, a market package that elevates the product into among those elaborately showing the excellence, hardwork and the world-class craftsmanship that gets the raffia among the lasting prides of Bohol and the Philippines. (30)

The two date palms, dated early 17th century stand as guards watching Tagbilaran City Strait. These palms have amazed Spaniards who thought date palms can only be found in the Middle East

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FROM the warm deserts of the middle east and the Arabian Peninsula, a plant has been carried to distant trading outposts, perhaps to be grown and constantly remind Arab travelers of home.
Date palms, sturdy and drought resistant plants have been sources of desert food by travelers who stop by oases liberally sprinkled along the desert trade routes, and its fruits carried by sea traders to far-out trading centers along with the merchandise the middle east have been known.
Endemic to the warm climates, date palms, owing to their sturdy nature have also been seen planted in trading centers where Mohammedans actively conduct business.
In Dauis, where form as early as 1272, Bornean datus established a trading outpost here at the Dapitan, Chinese, Moluccans and possibly Arabs have established trade relations, probably bringing with them the fine craft of gold and silversmithing, local historians have openly presumed.
Other than the age-old tradition of gold and silver jewelry crafts still existent in the shops of the Bunachitas, Claretes and the distant pawnshops owned by Dauis craftsmen, two centuries old date palms are the mute witnesses to the by-gone days when Dauis prominently figured out in the worlds trade routes.
The two date palms, standing like guards by the bay, welcome the sailors who may have come from afar, beckon the weary seamen traders that they are welcome here.
Planted too far out from the deserts of Arabia, these two palms, adorning the church plaza must have tickled the sensibilities of the adventurous Spaniards and frayles who never thought the palm could be surviving in a place like Dauis.
The marvelous character of the palm could have pushed the Spaniards to call the plant maravillosa.
Corrupted to mariveles, the characterizing date palms, probably the most imposing of all vegetation near the area is also used to name the place long time ago.
To commemorate the presence of these two imposing palms, a new place now slowly emerging as a must see social venue, aptly called Terraza de Mariveles is now a stone throw away from the palms within the Dauis church complex.
Established as a fitting reminder of a past so memorable, the Terraza de Mariveles is an al fresco venue, with the gigantic shades of the centuries old acacia putting everyone under her warm embrace.
Both the acacia and the “mariveles” palms connect the pueblo de Dauis to a past, which even dates back more than 292 years ago. (RAC)